[SOLD-OUT] Henschke Hill of Grace 2009

ERobertParker.com 97+ Points!

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"Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the nose on the 2009 Hill of Grace is a little closed, though it reveals notes of warm black plums, blackberry coulis and cloves with subtle nuances of dried Provence herbs, forest floor and lavender. Medium to full-bodied, it possesses layers of medium to full-bodied black fruit and earth-laced flesh elegantly structured by a medium to firm level of finely grained tannins, nicely balanced acid and a long finish."

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Lisa Perrotti-Brown, eRobertParker.com #211 Feb 2014

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Campbell Mattinson 96 Points!

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"Matured in 78% French oak / 22% American oak. Tasted this with Johann Henschke, who noted of the American oak inclusion: "It's an emotional connection but we also think it's been important to the Barossa for a reason." As familiar as Johann Henschke would be with Hill of Grace Shiraz it was still interesting to hear him say: "Every time I taste Hill of Grace I find it a privilege. If I have a bottle at home I put it in the fridge if there's any left over and make sure I appreciate each drop." On the 2009: "I'm pleasantly surprised. It wasn't a classic vintage. It was hot. It was challenging."

It's a distinctive wine. It's so un-Grange like in its flavour profile. It tastes like it comes from a garden. Truffles, blackcurrant, soy, smoky oak, saturated plums, fennel and crushed dry spice. It's soft and mellifluous. There's a clear herbal influence, in the most positive of manners. Tannin is infused thoroughly with spice; the spice doesn't just come as lift, it's ingrained, as it is in high grade charcuterie. Mostly French oak, and it shows, but a little American oak, and it shows. Remarkably approachable even though the tannin curls and lingers. Immensely silken tannin. Immensely interesting wine."

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Campbell Mattinson, Wine Front, April 2014

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Tony Love 99 Points!

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"Perhaps one of the greatest SA wines from the 2009 vintage...an intense essence of crimson,semi-dried plums and you'd swear you can smell the earth, trees and blossoms of its surrounds..."

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Tony Love, The Adelaide Advertiser, April 2014

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"100% shiraz grapes from pre-phylloxera material brought from Europe by the early settlers in the mid-1800s and grown on the Hill of Grace vineyard in the Eden Valley. They were planted around the 1860s by an ancestor, Nicolaus Stanitzki, in rich alluvial soil in a shallow fertile valley just north-west of the winery. The red-brown earth grading to deep silty loam has excellent moisture-holding capacity for these dry-grown vines, which sit at an altitude of 400m, with an average rainfall of 520mm. Hill of Grace is a unique, delineated, historic single vineyard that lies opposite a beautiful old Lutheran church which is named after a picturesque region in Silesia called Gnadenberg, meaning Hill of Grace.

The 2009 Hill of Grace is deep red with crimson hues. Complex aromas of red currants, blackberry and marzipan with hints of five spice, dried herbs, black pepper, smoked charcuterie and layers of fine French oak. The palate is deep, rich and textural with a beautiful expression of berry fruits and spice, finishing with long, fine velvety tannins."
Henschke

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Tyson Stelzer 96 points!

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"The scorching heatwave of January and early February played out differently for Hill of Grace than it did for much of South Australia, as this vineyard had not yet gone through veraison. The character of the vintage thus reflects more of the cool conditions of the remainder of the season, and Stephen Henschke compares the result with the intense and long-maturing 2005. To me, there is an immediacy, a generosity and a fruit plumpness to 2009 that promises medium- if not long-term potential, yet in every way fine and focused. A wonderfully exotic, characteristic and inimitable Hill of Grace, laced with signature notes of blueberries, black pastilles, curry, exotic five spice, dried sage and savoury hints of game. It's rich, voluptuous, fleshy, even creamy, layered with sweet berry compote fruits and mixed spice of grand proportions, exotic, cuddly and generous, yet well poised. Tannins are firm and velvet-fine, promising grand longevity, supported by creamy, milk chocolate oak."

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Tyson Stelzer, Wine Taste Weekly Edition 146

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Huon Hooke 97 Points!

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"The colour is deep, dark red with a slight purple tint. The bouquet opens with cassis and 'canned corn' aromas, building complexity as it warmed in the glass, to reveal five-spice and vegetal, herbal and black fruit aromas, with tinges of dried herbs, leather and tar. It's rich and fleshy on the tongue, with fine-grained tannins and gentle, mellow flavours that are not particularly fruity, but very very distinctive of Hill of Grace. Soft, fluffy tannins and great length; a sensational wine and a very good Hill of Grace."

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Huon Hooke, The Gourmet Traveller Wine Guide 2015.

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  Biodynamic  

Country:

Australia

Region:

SA- Eden Valley

Variety:

Wine Red - Shiraz

Size:

750mL